Gate-operating mechanism



F. B. GILBERT.

GATE OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MARJBI 1919.

1,337,897. I Patented Apr. 20, 1920,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

44 /3 I I *1 Ii L i 1 I 1 a v 1a 1 g. 2. 426/ Z0 WITNESS: INVENTOR. Arfl 7m [15. d'fifier! MTTORNEY.

F. B; GILBERT.

GATE OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR, '28, 1919.

1 337 97, Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z- INVENTOR. Y 1'5. Gilberj A TTORNE Y.

UNTTEE TATE$ PATENT OFFICE.

FREDEPJIC-T'K 13. GILBERT, MODESTG, CALIFORNIA.

GATE-UPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed March To mZ H 2.12 it may concern:

llc known that l, FREDERICK war. a residing at nism, of which the followin is a specifica tion. a

This invention relates to gates, particularly to latch mechanism therefor, and has for its object the provision of a gate latch provided with pedal operated means whereby the latch may be released to permit opening of the gate, actuation of the pedal operating means resulting in movement of a kicker member which will engage and force the gate open, itbeing preferred that the gate be so hinged that it will automatically swing to closed position.

An important object is the provision of a gate latch operc ting mechanism of this character which after actuation will return to its initial or normal position automatically and which will therefore be continually ready for use.

Another object is the provision of mechanism of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture and instal lation, highly efficient and convenient in use, and a general improvement'in the art.

l Vith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illus trated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a gate and its post embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof,

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view through the gate, looking toward the post and show ing the parts in normal position,

Fig. 1 is a similar view showing the latch released and the gate open, and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through the lower portion of the post showing the operating pedals in plan.

Referring more particularly to the draw-- ings, the letter A designates a gate and B designates its latch post. 7 The gate is hinged in the usual manner but is preferably so hung that it will gravitationally return, after being opened, to its closed position.

In carrying out my invention, I provide upon the post B a latch bar 10 which is pivoted at one end, as shown at 11, and

52,992. firesificatiw of Letters Patent Patented Apr. 26, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 285,757.

which has its other end beveled, as shown at 12, and undercut on its lower side to provide a shoulder 13. Coeperating with the latch bar 10 is a catch 14; which projects from the free end of the gate A and which is normally engaged by the shoulder 13 whereby the gate will be securely held in closed position. A guide bracket 15 is secured upon the post and straddles the latch bar 10 to guide the latter in its movement.

In order that the gate may be opened witl'iout the necessity of the operator grasping the latch bar 10, I provide a pair of levers 16 and 17 pivoted at 18 and 19 upon the lower portion of the post B. These levers have their outer ends laterally bent to provide foot engaging pedals 20 and 21, respectively, disposed at opposite sides of the post, that is at the inside and outside of the gateway. Pivotally connected with the lever 16 at a point slightly removed from its pivot point 18, is a link 22 which extends upwardly along the inner face of the post B and which has its upper end pivotally connected with the latch bar 10, as shown at 23. The inner end of the lever 16 has formed thereon or secured thereto if preferred, an upwardly extending kicker member 24.- disposed normally out of contact with the gate A. The innerend of the lever 17 has formed thereon a lateral extension 25 which engages the lever 16 at its juncture with the kicker member 2 1. Stop pins 26 are preferably provided for limiting downward movement of the pedals 20 and 21, and a suitable spring 27 is provided for normally holding the pedal 20, and consequently the pedal 21, in normally elevated position.

The parts being in the position shown in 3 the gate being shut and its catch 14: bein engaged by the shoulder 13, when a person approaching the gate desires to open the same, it is merely necessary that he place his foot upon and depress either the pedal 30 or 21, as the case may be. lVhen the pedal 20 is depressed the engagement of its lateral extension with the lever 16 will cause he lever 16 to be moved upon its pivot 18, he inner end of the lever 16 rising, as readily understood. This upward movement of the inner end of the lever 16 will result in longitudinal movement of the link 22 which will cause the latch bar 10 to swing upwardly upon its pivot 11 so that the shoulder 18 will be disposed in non-obstructing relation to the catch 14. The gate is then free to open. at the time that the latch bar 10 is elevated to a sullicient extent to release the catch 14, the kicker member 24L will engage the inner face of the gate. As the pedal 21 is depressed to its maximum extent the kicker member 24 will force the gate open and the operator may then pass through the gateway. In case the operator approaches the gate from the opposite side and presses upon the pedal 20, the operation will be exactly the same except that the pedal 21 will remain idle, as will be readily understood. When the operator removes his foot from a pedal the spring 2. will return the parts to their original positions, and the gate, being hung to gravitationally close, will return to its initial position and the catch 1% carried thereby will engage against the beveled end 12 of the latch bar and raise the free end thereof until the catch passes behind the shoulder 13, whereupon the latch bar 10 will drop behind the catch.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings, it will thus be apparent that I have provided an extremely simple mechanism whereby a gate may not only be released from its latch but actually forced open whereby to afford the maximum convenience to the user, especially in the event that the person desiring to pass through the gateway should happen to have both hands occupied and consequently be incapable of manipulating the ordinary form of latch. It will be observed also that the device is simple and consists of very few parts and that there will consequently be practically no danger of derangement of parts.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form,

construction and arrangement 01" parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I elaimz- 1. In a gate structure including a horizontally swinging gate provided at its free edge with a catch, a post, a latch bar pivoted on sa'd post and shouldered "for engagement with said catch, a pair of l vers pivoted upon said post and terminating at their outer enes in pedals arranged in none] strutting relation to said gate, a link pivotally connected with one of said levers and with said latch bar, the other of said levers having its "inner end abuttingly engaging said first named lever, a spring connected with said first named lever for maintaining the same in normal position, and a kicker member carried by said first named lever and engaging the gate for forcing the same open when either of said pedals is depressed.

:2. In a gate structure including a horizontally swinging gate hinged to remain] gravitationally in closed position and provided at its tree edge vith a catch, post, a latch bar pivoted on said post and shouldered for engagement with said catch, a

pair of levers pivoted upon the lower portion of said post and terminating their outer ends in pedals arranged in non-oi Siillltlllllg relation to said gate, a link pivotally connecting one of said levers with said latch bar, said lever having its inner end bent laterally and then upwardly to provide a kicker member engageable with the gate for forcing the same open, and the other lever having its inner end formed with a lateral extension abuttingly engaging the lateral portion of said first named lever.

in testimony whereof I my signature.

FREDERICK B. stream. 

